74 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Mr. Seebohm as “ wrack, wrack,” something like the sound 
made by a ratchet-drill. In Spain, according to Mr. Howard 
Saunders, the note is rendered by the words “ Carlanco, 
Carlanco.” 
d'he Roller is a late breeder, and never commences to lay 
before May, often not until the end of that month in some 
countries. 
Nest. — Very slight, or none at all. The bird selects a con- 
venient hole in a tree, a building, or even in a bank, and 
though not a gregarious bird at the nesting-time, it has been 
found in Palestine, by Canon Tristram, nesting in holes in a 
bank, excavated by the birds themselves. The nest is a slight 
structure of twigs or grass with hair or feathers, but when the 
hole of a tree is selected, or a deserted Woodpecker’s hole 
used as a nesting-place, the eggs are deposited on chips ot 
wood, without any attempt at a nest. 
Eggs. — From four to six in numher, rounded in shape, and 
glossy white. They mea.sure ; axis, i'5 inch j diam., i‘i5 
inch. 
II. THE ABYSSINIAN ROLLER. CORACIAS ABYS.SINICUS. 
Coracias abyssinicus, Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 38 (1783) ; See- 
bohm, Brit. B. ii. p. 331 (1884); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 
Mus. xvii. p. 19 (1892). 
Coracias leiicoccphalus, Saunders, Man. Brit. B. p. 272, note 
(1889). 
Adult Male. — Exactly like C. garruhis, but with the outer 
tail-feather on each side produced to a great length; bill 
black; feet greenish-yellow; iris brown. Total length, 18 
inches; culmen, 1-05; wing, 6-7; tail, 5-4; outer tail-feather, 
ii’3 ; tarsus, o'Ss. 
Range in Great Britain. — Two specimens of this most unlikely 
visitor to Great Britain are said to have been obtained in 
Scotland. Mr. Small, the well-known taxidermist of Edin- 
burgh, states that the male was shot near Glasgow about the 
year 1857, and was preserved by him. A female bird was 
shot, not long afterwards, about forty miles from the place 
